Carbapenem antibiotic compounds

PCT No. PCT/GB92/00588 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 6, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 6, 1993 PCT Filed Apr. 2, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO92/17481 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 15, 1992A carbapenem compound of the formula (I) (I) wherein: R1 is 1-hydroxyethyl, 1-fluoroethyl or hydroxymethyl; R2 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl; R3 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl; R4 is hydroxy or carboxy; and the phenyl ring is optionally further substituted by one or two substituents selected from halo, cyano, C1-4alkyl, nitro, hydroxy, carboxy, C1-4alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, C1-4alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, C1-4alkylcarbamoyl, di-C1-4alkylcarbamoyl, amino, C1-4alkylamino, di-C1-4alkylamino sulphonic acid, C1-4alkylS(O)n-(wherein n is 0-2), N-C1-4alkanesulphonamido, C1-4alkanoylamino and C1-4alkanoyl(N-C1-4alkyl)amino: provided that the phenyl ring is substituted by at least one carboxy; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or in vivo hydrolysable ester thereof.